Rep. Buyer: Why Isn't VA Data Encrypted?

Rep. Steve Buyer (R-Ind.), ranking member of the U.S. House Committee on Veterans Affairs, has sent a letter to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki expressing his "deepest" concern over the recent theft of an unencrypted laptop from a VA contractor, and the department's information security procedures.

Information Week first reported on the laptop theft. It was stolen from a personal vehicle on April 22 and contained sensitive information, including Social Security numbers, on more than 600 veterans receiving pharmacy services.